Chapter 10: The Azure Cloud Sword Technique, Eighth Grade

“This sword technique…”

“Once I master it, I must teach it well.”

With powerful enhancements from numerous sword-related attributes—such as Divine Swordsmanship, Dual Blade Style, Solo Sword Cultivation, and Sword Bone—Yang Le’s brief glance through the Azure Cloud Sword Manual was enough to grant him immediate entry into the technique.

Yang Le had a rough understanding of the origins of the Azure Cloud Sword Manual. He also uncovered why sword cultivators within the Great Qian martial lineage were so pathetically weak, to the point where the vast majority of martial practitioners had never even heard of swordsmanship. The Azure Cloud Sword Manual did not originate from the Great Qian martial path but came from an external realm—Qingping Mountain—within the Fengling Sect, serving as an introductory cultivation method for sword cultivators.

This manual channels sword energy into one’s meridians; the technique itself is agile and intrinsically linked to the Azure Cloud Sword Style. Breaking through one meridian elevates one’s rank by one grade. Mastering all ten meridians and uniting the energy into the dantian forms a spiritual sword, marking the first tier of the Celestial Realm.

Upon initial practice, the sword momentum even carried a faint infusion of wind attributes, enhancing its potency. The only regret Yang Le held was that his copy of the manual was incomplete. Despite this, he was quite satisfied—at least until reaching the fifth rank, no further manual would be necessary.

Of course, understanding the power of this technique made Yang Le realize the fate of Li Qier. He was doomed.

“Drawing the wind into the sword momentum can reach the ninth rank…”

“Integrating the essence of wind through the meridians, the sword momentum ascends to the eighth rank…”

“Is this already the eighth rank?”

The moment he acquired the Azure Cloud Sword Manual, Yang Le immediately abandoned the Spring and Autumn Technique and switched to retraining in martial arts.

Initially, Yang Le thought that even with his abundant sword cultivation attributes, it would take some time to ascend back to the ninth rank. But in the blink of an eye, as his cultivation just entered the ninth rank, countless sword techniques inherent to the Azure Cloud Sword Manual flooded his mind.

Then, like the shattering of glass, after drawing the cold wind into his sword momentum midair, he reached the eighth rank.

At the dantian, the small sword previously shrouded in mist became crystal clear, replaced instead by a roaring wind energy.

Yang Le’s breakthrough to the eighth rank unleashed a surging sword intent around him, attracting everyone’s attention.

In an instant, a fierce internal energy erupted within Yang Le’s body, his skin glowing, and his strength increased by over a thousand pounds.

More importantly, when he lifted his sword again, a faint green aura shimmered around it.

The sword qi had emerged.

“Eighth rank? To break through at a time like this?”

“Impossible, right? From ninth to eighth rank, the breakthrough is as easy as drinking water?”

“At ninth rank, he already towered over us, and now he’s at eighth…”

Yang Le’s breakthrough was clear and unhidden, naturally noticed by those around him.

Instantly, the crowd was shaken, and countless thoughts flooded the minds of the martial cultivators present.

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Some were stunned, as if caught in a dream.

Others were terrified, fearing Yang Le might unleash his newfound power and slaughter everyone around him with his bloodstained longsword.

Even more daring ones glinted with ferocity in their eyes, plotting to seize the moment of Yang Le’s breakthrough to launch a surprise attack.

“Eighth rank…”

Drawing in the last trace of his momentum, Yang Le rose swiftly, grasped his longsword, and sword intent swirled around him like the wind.

He then glanced at the crowd, where many had been scheming but now quickly fell silent.

Attempt a sneak attack?

How could anyone even think of that?

Just a single glance from him radiated a life-threatening pressure.

These schemers were bold, not foolish. To dare harbor such thoughts at this moment was tantamount to courting death.

“I don’t know where you got this sword technique, but it’s truly useful to me. If I teach you swordsmanship, I will keep my promise.”

Ignoring the crowd, Yang Le looked at Li Qier.

In his previous life, Yang Le had never been one to take advantage unfairly.

This deal with Li Qier: if he benefited, he would make up for it elsewhere.

“Master, I only wish to learn the sword, to learn it with my life.”

Li Qier paused briefly, then smiled, “The debt for the wound medicine has already been repaid.”

“Understood.”

Yang Le nodded and sheathed his sword. “After leaving the city, I will teach you swordsmanship.”

This time, Yang Le didn’t bother correcting Li Qier’s address.

Too lazy to argue.

“Who knows how many will survive the night?”

After speaking with Li Qier, Yang Le’s gaze fixed upon the night.

Previously, with his ninth-rank cultivation, Yang Le had thought to proceed cautiously, ideally acquiring some resources from Changsun Ji and then leaving Qinghe County alongside the local martial cultivators and Changsun Ji.

Even with a ninth-rank cultivation and the system’s attributes, Yang Le was not invincible in Qinghe County.

Moreover, the offensive style of the seventh sword technique favored solo combat; even if he exhausted himself, he couldn’t finish off the numerous White Lotus Cult followers outside the city.

But now, having reached the eighth rank and begun retraining in the Azure Cloud Sword Manual, his strength more than doubled.

After some calculation, Yang Le estimated that if he continued to fuse the wind attribute into his sword momentum, granting him area attack capabilities, he could single-handedly break through Qinghe County.

Of course, the main reason Yang Le didn’t want to stay with Changsun Ji was because of an unsettling aura he sensed from him.

Thus, after claiming the promised reward from Changsun Ji, Yang Le planned to leave Qinghe County immediately—possibly taking Li Qier with him.

At this moment—

---

Yang Le did something simple: he sat cross-legged and resumed cultivation.

Li Qier, seeing this, didn’t hesitate and sat behind him.

Looking at Yang Le’s tightly closed eyes, her gaze was lively and tinged with curiosity, as though beholding a precious treasure.

“I never expected that by some luck I survived the night my clan was wiped out, wandering Great Qian for ten years with a so-called secret, only to find such a pure sword cultivator.”

“But does Great Qian truly have a sword path…”

After much thought, Li Qier ceased her musings and turned her gaze back to the night.

“Father, Mother, I will avenge you.”

Sitting beside Yang Le, Li Qier bit her lip tightly, her eyes deepening with ruthless determination.

As for the other martial cultivators, they no longer dared to act rashly.

Grouped by faction and acquaintances, they stood quietly.

Under Yang Le’s overwhelming presence, no one had the courage to move.

In this moment of rest beneath the night, they had far fewer worries than Yang Le.

Though this martial trial differed from the original rules set by Changsun Ji, and though Yang Le’s sudden rise was a huge upheaval, compared to those who had perished, these survivors considered themselves fortunate.

Those who succeeded in entering the martial camp could focus on cultivating the Spring and Autumn Technique and receive body tempering pills as rewards.

Such benefits were enough to satisfy them.

Though the Great Qian soldiers’ reputations were not good, that was the view of noble clans.

For martial cultivators in Qinghe County, being granted exceptional entry into the Great Qian military was an unimaginable dream.

…

“It’s time to collect the bodies.”

“Huh? So many?”

After a silent night, as the first sunlight poured into the martial hall, its doors slowly opened.

Deputy Officer Li Bing stood guard at the entrance with a dozen ninth-rank soldiers from Cizhou Prefecture, carrying many black cloths used for collecting bodies.

Instinctively, Li Bing ordered his soldiers to prepare for body retrieval.

But to his shock—

Upon opening the door, the scene before him left him dumbfounded.

How could there be so many?

“Killing intent…”

In the corner, Yang Le opened his eyes the moment Li Bing stepped into the hall.

From Li Bing, Yang Le sensed a murderous aura—an intent directed at them.